When Paul reached Athens he missed his ministry team, Silas and Timothy, who had stayed behind in Berea to disciple the new church (Acts 17:14). The apostle was probably not alone (he always wanted other brothers with him) but he waited for the others before launching a new evangelistic mission in the city. During this delay, Paul did 'sight-seeing with a gospel purpose'. He wanted to understand what people in the city thought about God.

Culturally they were very religious. Many temples had been built to worship multiple gods, but Paul said they were all idols: although people worshipped them, they had no personality, no power and the gods had no true existence (Psalm 115:4-8). This distressed the apostle: the people had a great internal God-hunger, but because they did not know the one true God, they had invented gods to do what they wanted. Even the Jewish community seemed to go along with the idea that it did not matter if their friends and work colleagues were deluding themselves.

But Paul could not keep quiet about Jesus, His death and resurrection. It was culturally acceptable for visitors to share new ideas in Athens, the academic centre of the world at that time; so Paul was given the opportunity to announce the gospel message. Perhaps his accent ('babbler') betrayed his provincial roots, but they still listened and asked him questions. However, as time went on, the philosophers betrayed their reluctance to properly examine new ideas. They dismissed Jesus as a foreign god. They had enough gods already and did not need another, or so they thought.

Evangelism is not a formula; it is a direct communication of God's gospel to people who need to be saved. Every time we share the gospel it is helpful to understand the mind-set of the listeners, so that we can make the truth easier to understand. But first we need to share Paul's distress at seeing unbelievers deluding themselves with idols; when even some Christians do not think that should be any concern of theirs. If Jesus was distressed over unbelieving Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37), should we not be deeply concerned about our friends and colleagues who are chasing false gods and ignoring God who came in the flesh to be their Saviour? The answer to that question may well change the way you see the world, and how the Lord will use you to bring others to know Him.